The International Maritime Organization has called an extraordinary session of its council to discuss the worsening situation in the Middle East and its implications for commercial shipping and seafarers.
The meeting, requested by several member states, will take place at the IMO’s headquarters in London on March 18 and 19 and will be chaired by Victor Jiménez of Spain.
According to the organisation, the session will focus on the impact of the crisis on shipping in the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman and the Gulf region, with particular attention on waters in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Although the Strait remains legally open, Iran has effectively restricted access for much of international shipping by attacking vessels in and around the waterway as well as in the wider region.
On March 11, the Thai-flagged bulker Mayuree Naree was attacked while attempting to transit the Strait. Three crew members remain missing, while the other 20 were evacuated and rescued by the Royal Omani Navy.
IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez held briefings with industry organisations on March 11 and with member states on March 12 in order to share information and review recent developments.
He again condemned attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, saying that any attack on innocent seafarers or civilian vessels is unacceptable. He also stressed that all parties, without exception, must respect freedom of navigation, which remains a fundamental principle of international maritime law.
